Birmingham City Council Highlights 2.11.25
Following a recent report submitted by the independent Birmingham Crime Commission the Council received an update on Tuesday regarding the recommendations set forth in the report.
As it stands, 42 of the actionable items are in the planning an implementation phase — out of 82 total recommendations.
Read the entire report HERE
Police Staffing — Police Department is reviewing 90 candidates for the March Police Academy Class.
Reserve Officer Program — More information will be released in March but BPD has began work on this, according to the Mayor.
Expanding Hospital-Linked Violence Intervention — We’ve seen tremendous success with this partnership and the acute care of those who have been admitted for gun shot wounds.
Shooting Reviews — BPD has initiated this weekly reporting process to address hot spots across the city.
More updates on these recommendations and action items are expected to be reported to the Council next month.
ITEM 11
On Tuesday, the Council approved a contract for the Penny Foundation to administer fiscal and budgetary aspects of one of the City’s successful conflict resolution program for at-risk youth.
The H.E.A.T. Curriculum (Habilitation, Empowerment, and Accountability Therapy) is part of a three-pronged effort to address violent crime through investments in prevention and re-entry programs. The strategy is called Common Ground and builds on the research and collaboration with multiple partners.
The program uses an evidence-based, culturally relevant, holistic approach to handling anger management and conflict resolution in area schools.
The H.E.A.T. curriculum is currently used in Birmingham Municipal Court as part of the drug court initiative, and they first expanded a pilot program at Carver High School in 2021.
“We’ve seen this have a lot of success over the last several years, helping young people address the challenges they’re facing and helping them work through that in a constructive way,” Council President Darrell O’Quinn said. “This has helped put a lot of people on a different path. The statistics we’ve seen have indicated that the overwhelming majority of young people who take part in this initiative have been redirected to a better path forward and I’m happy to be able to support this important work.”
ITEM 12
The Council approved a project agreement under which WorkPlay Properties will rehab and redevelop the popular music venue located at 500 23rd Street South.
Under the five-year tax incentive agreement, which totals $230,000, the City will pay the company up to $46,000 annually following the redevelopment.
The venue features multiple spaces, including a main theater with a capacity of 500 people, a smaller canteen area, and a large soundstage that can accommodate up to 800 people. This versatility allows WorkPlay to cater to a wide range of events and audiences and is a vital part of Birmingham’s art scene.
In addition to its role as an entertainment venue, WorkPlay also offers co-working spaces and studio rentals, fostering a creative and collaborative environment for artists and entrepreneurs.
Council President Darrell O’Quinn issues statement on backlog of criminal court cases
“Something that is out of our control in the City of Birmingham, is the adjudication of criminal court cases, especially felony cases with violent offenders. Currently, there is a significant backlog of three to four years for these cases to go to trial. That is a major challenge when trying to address crime in Birmingham. Those who are committing these crimes, including people accused of murder, are walking free for years while they wait to go to trial in many cases.
That is a direct challenge for city officials to be able to provide public safety and is something our community needs to be aware of. I’d encourage everyone to reach out to their state leaders to bring this issue to their attention. We need their help. Specifically, we need additional judges to come and adjudicate these cases.”
